Improvement in velocipedes



W.` H. JOHNSON.

Patented -Nov, 30,',1869.

IIIA

f vado mins Pham mhugmphr wash man ntril gisten vWILLIS H. JOHNSON, OF SPRINGFIELD ILLINOIS.

v Letters Patent No. 97,411, dated November 30, 1869; mttecleted November 27, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN 'VELOCIPEDES The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom t't may concern l Be it known that I,WrLLIs H.JoHNsoN, of Spring field, in the county of Sanganion, and in the State of Illinois, have 'invented a new and improved Velocipede; and do hereby declare that theV following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference be` ing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature and 4principle of l'ny invention are the construction of a velocipede with only one large wheel, which touches the ground, and communicating motion to this by making small wheels revolve within it g and as such small wheels, while communicating such motion tothe large wheel, will retain their horizontal poy sition in relation to the ground, I construct upon them a'carriage for the transportation of individuals.

A is a wheel, of any desired size, say from live to eight feet in diameter, with an inside rim, bdescrib ing a circle of' about half the diameter of the whole wheel.

Between this inside rim b and outer rim a, are the braces c cy e, dto., for` giving the large wheel A strength and endurance. These braces c c c are of anydesired number, and cross each other,.in every direction, and

run from one point on the inside of the `outer run a, te such a point opposite-on same rim, that the centre of each brace c will touch, and be fastened to the rim of -the inner circle b.

I construct the carriage (l with the grooved wheels el d d,.tovrevolve upon the inside of the rim b,- the revolution of thewheels d-(Z d, of this carriage O,co1n pelling the revolution of 4thelarge wheel A, and the carriage 0, which is fitted closely into the circle' these wheels is located between the circular side-pieces e e, directly under the riders seat E, and the ther on opposite sides of the carriage O, and about as high up as the head of the rider.

In front of the riders seat E, is the driving-wheel F, connected with the 'axle of the grooved wheel d,

underneath the riders seat, by means of the leather belt'g.

h h are the two cranks, one on each side of the driving-wheel F, and l t t are the stirrups for the reception of the riders feet.

These cranks 71. h, being turned by the rider, from his seat-E, communicate motion to the wheel d, underneath the riders seat,'by means of the Vdrivingwheel Fand connecting-belt g, and this motion, thus communicated, throws the weight of the rideiis body slightly forward beyond the centre of gravity, which starts the revolution of the largevwheel A, and, by ffriction with' the inner rim bof the inner' circle, the other small wheels d d, are made to revolve, and this revolution of the large wheel A brings the track pt' the wheels d, viz, the rirn b,continually under thse wheels, so that the Whole carriage O may retain its horizontal position.l Now, y

What'I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl l.' The carriage C, constructed and arranged with the oval-shaped circular side-pieces e e, and crossbeams ff, grooved wheels el d d, driving-wheel E, connecting-belt g, cranks h 7i, stirrups t t, and seat E, substantially inthe manner herein described, and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the carriage C, constructed as described, with the braced wheel A, also constructed as described, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

'hereunto set v:ny-hand, this 31st day of March, 1869.

WILLIS H. JOHNSON.

In testimony-that I claim the foregoing, I have- 

